Curry is purr-fect for old cat

Stanley the hotel cat may be the oldest moggy in England as he is 23 in November.

Despite using up a few of his nine lives along the way, he remains as active as a cat half his age with his owner crediting his love of tandoori chicken and breakfast cereals for keeping him in the pink.

He is a familiar sight to visitors at Dunsley Hall Hotel, Kinver, where he lives with owner Terrie Beardsmore.

Mrs Beardsmore believes Stanley could be the oldest cat in the country when he turns 23 and plans to contact the Guinness Book of Records to confirm it.In 2005 the oldest verified cat in the world was 23-year-old Spook of Ontario, Canada.

Mrs Beardsmore has been Stanley's owner since he was eight-weeks-old and saved him from being put down because his previous owner did not want him.

The moggy proved resilient and, despite a bout of poor health at the age of 16, has continued to land on his feet as all good cats should.

Most cats live to be between the ages of 10 and 15 but often survive for longer because of better foods and improved veterinary care.